Raps filed vs. Andaya over alleged non-disclosure of properties in SALN

A coalition led by Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) commissioner Greco Belgica on Tuesday filed a complaint against House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya for allegedly failing to disclose several properties in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

The Truth and Justice Coalition charged Andaya for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials, perjury, and falsification before the Office of the Ombudsman. His wife Marissa Lourdes is also named respondent.

Additional administrative charges of serious dishonesty and grave misconduct were filed against Andaya.

Belgica said the lawmaker did not declare nine real properties, their business interests in Noy and Ning's Corporation, and his ownership of P4.96 million worth of firearms.

"Marami ho siyang hindi na-declare, mga baril, may mga sasakyan, so iyan may mga properties. Lahat po iyon we saw na hindi na-declare nang maayos," Belgica said.

"Okay lang naman na mayaman ka, importante na na-justify mo yung pinagkunan mo ng pera."

'Expensive demolition job'

In a statement, Andaya called the complaint a form of political harassment after surveys showed he is ahead of his opponents for the 2019 midterm elections.

"It is an expensive demolition job being waged at all fronts, especially in social media, but with a common thread running through all of them: lies," Andaya said.

"In a bid to keep their stranglehold on the province, my enemies are resorting to tactics most foul, because the most recent surveys show that I will beat their candidate, despite the private and public resources at their disposal," he added.

Andaya said Belgica should have sought his side first before filing a case at the Ombudsman. He claimed the PACC official "has been a clueless victim of a prank, or a party of an ongoing hatchet job."

He also urged Belgica to look into the SALN of his political rivals.

Undervalued, inconsistent, unjustified

Belgica said the motor vehicles listed under Andaya and his wife's name were undervalued as the lawmaker claimed these were only worth P2 million. He said evidence suggests the couple's registered vehicles is around P12.545 million.

In his complaint-affidavit, Belgica said Andaya's declared cash asset of P5 million seemed to be inconsistent with the numerous travels he and his family made between 2015 to 2017, including trips to the United States, Qatar, and Japan.

Belgica said these travels are unjustified considering that Andaya only declared his stock ownership in three corporations as his other source of income and no active businesses.

He further claimed the SALNs of Andaya were falsified when the two documents had the same declared properties, liabilities, and notarial details.

"It is very unlikely, if not impossible for this amount to remain the same. If indeed, the amount remained in the bank, it would have, at the very least earned some interest income. Respondents thus failed to make this declaration," Belgica said.

Belgica urged the Ombudsman to indict Andaya at the proper court and dismiss him from government service if he is found guilty of the offense.

Belgica hinted his coalition would sue at least 15 other government officials in the coming weeks, including congressmen, senators, mayors, and former Cabinet secretaries. —KBK, GMA News